AMERICAN LEGION AAA STATE TOURNAMENT

Bryant reaches finals with lift from Jackson

University of Arkansas signee Zack Jackson pitched eight solid innings to send Bryant to Saturday’s winners’ bracket finals after a 7-4 victory over Fort Smith.

Jackson, who has seen limited action this summer with the BlackSox after leading Bryant High School to a Class 7A state title in May, struck out four, walked none, hit a batter and picked off two runners as Bryant won the battle between last season’s two Legion finalists.

The BlackSox led 7-2 with Jackson on the mound to start the ninth inning, but he was replaced after giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases with nobody out.

Jackson, who threw 94 pitches, was replaced with submarine throwing Boston Heil, who picked up the save after giving up an RBI fielder’s choice and a run-scoring single.

“Everything went well, except for the end,” Bryant Coach Darren Hurt said. “Jackson was on a pitch count, but really, we were playing it by ear. We allowed Zack to throw in a scrimmage game and after 50 pitches he looked really good. The goal was to stay under 80, but as usual, he came out feeling great and wanting the ball. … They had three hits against him, but two of them were because they did a good job of hitting.”

Shortstop Jake East led Bryant’s 14-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with a double and three singles. Logan Allen was 3 for 5 with a triple and two runs scored. Austin Kelly drove in a run with a double. Dylan Hurt and Garrett Misenheimer both had two hits and drove in a run.

Bryant, which will play Texarkana in Saturday’s winners’ bracket finals, has rapped out 54 hits in its three games.

“Our hitting has been the only thing we haven’t been consistent with this summer,” Coach Hurt said. “But I think we’re peaking at the right time offensively. With the way our pitchers are throwing, if we can throw up 13 or 14 hits a game, I like our chances.”

Fort Smith, which will play an elimination game on Friday, picked up 11 hits, including a 3 for 5 effort from Christian Brasher and a 2 for 4 game from Daniel DeMondesert.

TEXARKANA 13, PARAGOULD 1

Tanner Vaught pitched a four-hitter to lead Texarkana into next weekend’s winners’ bracket finals.

The Razorbacks scored four of their first five runs with two outs before putting the game away with an eight-run seventh inning.

Matt Goodheart and Cole Boyd opened the game with back-to-back singles, and after a wild pitch, Blake Hall and Will Smith followed with back-to-back sacrifice flies. Goodheart made it 3-0 Texarkana in the second inning with a two-out single. In the sixth inning, Goodheart’s two-out double gave Texarkana a 5-1 lead before the Razorbacks exploded for eight runs in the final inning.

ELIMINATION GAMES

ROGERS 12, BLYTHEVILLE 3

Jared Sample’s two-run first-inning double helped Rogers roll to victory. Sage White, Colin McWhorter and Harrison Heffley each had two hits for Rogers. Jamal Washington and Michael Miller each had two hits for Blytheville.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 6,

SEARCY 5

Jelani Willis drew a two-out walk in the eighth inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error as North Little Rock rallied to beat Searcy. De’Shaun Cordova and Chance Harger each had a double for North Little Rock. Tanner Werley had three hits and drove in a run for Searcy, which led 5-2 in the fifth inning.

LITTLE ROCK 10, MTN. HOME 6

Lance Harville-Thomas hit a three-run home run off the Hendrix College scoreboard in leading the Little Rock Vipers over Mountain Home.

Harville-Thomas finished 3 for 5 with 4 RBI. Dakotah Stafford and Dylan Chilcote also had three hits for Little Rock. Markus Bracey had two hits and scored three runs.

JACKSONVILLE 16, CONWAY 6

Jacksonville got two hits from Mike Havard, Caleb McMunn, Kam Whitmore and Trent Toney to down Conway. Christian Hamilton led Conway with three hits; Eli Davis, Brian Dumas and Matt Sweere each had two hits.

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